The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1887-05-18

money, and return with this hatched-up
story; but il won't work, IL won't work.
You might as we'll confess, my fine fellow,
and tell us where the money is. 1t will go
easier with you If you do"
But Frank could not confess anything
but the truth-and so he told him-and
was marched away to Jail.
The CONSERVATION Of Meta, his lovely
wife, upon hearing that her darling hus-
band was arrested upon such n charge,
may be easier imagined than described.
The trial come on. Frank pre- cured
counsel who sifted the matter to tlr, best
of their ability, but could make n'thing
out of il favorable to poor Franz, and
Franks story was so handled by the prose-
cutting counsel as to appear in the highest
degree improbable, and no doubt made
much against him. He was convicted,
and sentenced 10 five years hard labor in
the State Penitentiary. Upon the render
ing of the verdict his wife Meta was car
ried out of the courtroom insepsible.
The last day had come, and Frank Mar
tin was to be carried away to the distant
prison, to serve out at toilsome drudgery
the sentence he had received for crime he
had not committed. His wife Meta stood
at the iron bars of his prison cell, with
their child in her arms. She had come
with it to bid him farewell. All the bright
ness of the past was as nothing when
weighed in comparison with this dark woe,
which had settled down on them so sud-
denly, chilling and blasting their lives al
most in the spring-time Of youth. Ali
worse than death, each one felt il TO be.
But at that dismal hour of parting Meta
love and faith in her husband were stronger
than all the proof in the world; and she did
not think be was innocent-she knew ii.
She held her boy up, and Frank reached
forth through the cold iron grating of his
prison cell, and encircled his child with his
arms.
"Oh, what will become Of you, poor dar-
liDgs, when l am gomez" exclaimed he, in
anguish.
"Well trust in God, dear Frank, and
We'll meet again. Let us hope. Let US
pray" And Meta clasped her hand on
Franks, which was now resting on the in
fants head, and thus they stood, each heart
torn with emotion, yet dreading the terrible
hour of separation, until the stern jailer
came, and told them time was up, and then
poor Meta had almost forcibly to be taken
away.
Five years had passed, and Frank Martin
was once more free man. He had served
out his time. He returned to the city,
where he had left Meta. He found her and
his child suffering in poverty and want.
We will pass over the joyous reunion.
Meta was still his in faith and love as when
they parted. The law, by the imprison-
ment of her husband, gave her a divorce,
but she accepted no such enforcement.
A few months passed. Frank could OBJ
tain no settled employment, and barely
managed to obtain meager subsistence for
himself and family. The ban that jury
of his fellow-men had placed upon him
still chung to him, and he thought of going
away TO some distant part of the country,
where his former life would be unknown;
but, alas! he lacked the means.
Things were in this condition when, one
morning, a we'll dressed gentleman knocked
at the door of the miserable tenement where
they resided. Frank admitted him.
Are you Frank Martin, a carpenter, who
served five years in the State PRISON."
Il am" replied Frank, flushing to the
temples, yet not denying the truth.
We'll, them" said the stranger, II am
requested to bring you Immediately to the
house of Mr.. Henry Jenkins. His son
Charles is dying, and he says he must see
you or he can not rest in his grave"
"Charles Jenkins?" replied Frank; al
never knew such person."
"He has been residing in Philadelphia
for the last eight or ten years, and has
lately come home to die. Come, let us CO."
Frank went with him without hesitation,
yet trembling with excitement. He almost
felt what was coming.
They arrived at the mansion, and found
that Charles Jenkins was indeed dying.
notary public had been summoned, and
was taking down some statement of his as
inc foil
stood by, looking sad and careworn. When
the dying man saw Frank, he asked:
Are you Frank Martin"
Il am, replied Frank.
"Then l have done you great wrong
/ let you suffer for crime L committed.
L was the individual who entered and
robbed my own father. l had just ar
rived in the city; gambling had reduced me
to penury; my father. | knew, was wealthy;
l had come to try to induce him 10 give
me money; l was afraid of failure; L de-
termined not to fall l had skeleton keys,
and if he refused to give me what l asked
| determined to rob him; L came In and
found things as you know; escaped; no.
body believed you; nobody knew | had
been about i returned to Philadelphia. |
am now here-dying. My father. you are
rich. Let me pray you give to this poor
man some of your wealth-all, in fact, that
you had designed for meas some poor
recompense for what your wild, misguided
boy has made him suffer"
Il will, my SON. 1t shall be DONE" ex-
claimed the old man.
will you forgive me, father?" he then
asked.
Indeed, you know l do. Oh, Charles!
oh, Charles" gasped the father with much
emotion.
"Can you forgive me?" asked the dying
man, looking to Frank.
II do" replied Frank, solemnly, "and
may God forgive you as freely"
Amen" said the clergyman, who had
summoned Frank.
The notary public had taken down the
dying mans statement. He signed 1t, AMI
soon after breathed his last.
Franks name was cleared, and he was
made rich and he and Meta bid fair yet
to spend many happy days upon the earth,
Notwithstanding there once was an houi
when all seemed Dead Sea ashes"